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Calling All Whiskey Lovers! 🥃 This Easy Bourbon Marinade Recipe is for You!
Our obsession with this brown sugar bourbon marinade recipe is pretty self-explanatory: brown sugar + bourbon, what’s not to love?! This easy marinade recipe is one I developed with Chris, my whiskey-loving husband, in mind. Wanting to make a special grilled meal even more special for him, I grabbed a bottle of bourbon & got to work. (Wife of the year, right? 💁🏻♀️)
The resulting recipe, this brown sugar bourbon marinade hits all the right notes – any harsh bite from the booze is mellowed out with tangy balsamic & Dijon mustard, while bourbon’s natural caramelly sweetness is enhanced with brown sugar. It’s so perfectly balanced that it’s a hit with whiskey lovers & haters alike. (Trust me here…I’m not a whiskey fanatic but I love this bourbon marinade!)
The really fun thing about this bourbon marinade is that it works beautifully with just about anything you’d ever want to throw on the grill. Use it to make the best bourbon chicken, or to add even more flavor to your favorite grilled steaks or pork chops. It’s also great on seafood like shrimp & salmon…seriously, everything!
Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade Recipe Highlights
You are going to love this brown sugar bourbon marinade recipe. It’s…
TANGY & SWEET. Rich bourbon is balanced out with tangy balsamic vinegar, which tones down any harsh bite of the whiskey & instead creates tangy, sweet, rich flavor that is especially to die for on the grill! 🔥
SIMPLE. This bourbon marinade leans on 7 flavor-bomb ingredients, many of which are probably already in your pantry. Plus, it can be mixed up in 5 minutes or less. Easy!
VERSATILE. The best part? You can use it on just about everything – bourbon chicken, the best grilled steaks & pork chops, kebabs, veggies & more!
Summer grilling just got a little boozier, & we’re so not mad about it! 😎 ♡ Read on to learn more about this homemade Brown Sugar Marinade recipe, or jump straight to the recipe & get grilling!
Key Ingredients
The best thing about this brown sugar bourbon marinade is that it’s so flavorful but it’s made with just 7 very simple ingredients. You probably already have everything you need to make it in your pantry. It does not get better than steak house-fancy flavors made from simple pantry ingredients!
Note: Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the Recipe Card, below.
Here’s what you need…
- Bourbon – Of course! There’s no need to grab a top-shelf bourbon in for this bourbon marinade recipe since it’s being mixed with other flavor-forward ingredients. We always have a handle of Bulliet or Jim Beam on hand for our favorite cocktail. It works beautifully for this marinade recipe, too.
- Balsamic vinegar – Aside from the bourbon, balsamic is probably the most important ingredient in this easy marinade recipe. Its tangy, rich flavor mellows out any harsh notes of the whiskey. For best results, use a nice, aged balsamic vinegar.
- Brown sugar – For sweetness that balances out the rich, tangy notes of the vinegar & mustard & caramelizes on the grill. For rich, caramelly flavor use dark brown sugar. If you prefer a more natural sweetener, coconut sugar, honey, pure maple syrup, & agave all work too.
- Aromatics – Namely garlic (of course!), mustard (either Dijon or whole grain work great here), & rosemary (feel free to use fresh or dried).
- Olive oil – A little bit to hold the marinade together! Since this grill marinade has so many other big flavors, you don’t need to use an expensive oil. If you prefer grilling with high smoke point oils, that’s cool! You can use avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or whatever neutral oil you love most as an alternative.
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How to Make This Easy Bourbon Marinade
The other thing to love about this brown sugar bourbon marinade recipe? It takes practically no time to make. It’s a really simple one bowl, 5-minute operation!
Full Recipe Directions, including step-by-step photos, are included in the Recipe Card, below.
Here’s how you do it. ⇢ Simply add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl, whisking to combine. That’s it! With your brown sugar bourbon marinade mixed & ready to go, you can use it immediately or transfer to a small jar & place it in the fridge for later use. (In fact, if you’re prepping for later use, you can skip the bowl & combine all of the ingredients in a small jar & shake to combine – less dishes, for the win! 🙌🏼)
Step-by-Step Video
More Tips & Tricks
Suggested Marinating Time
Suggested Marinating Time
Marinating time varies based on the type of protein you use. Having tested this brown sugar bourbon marinade with a variety of different proteins & a variety of different marinating times, here’s what I suggest…
- Mild proteins like chicken & pork should soak in this bourbon marinade for at least 6 hours & up to 3 days.
- Rich or gamey proteins like beef & lamb should soak in this bourbon marinade for at least 12 hours & up to 3 days.
- Veggies last even longer – you can marinate them for at least 20 minutes or up to 5 days.
- Delicate proteins like seafood (i.e. salmon, shrimp, flaky white fish) have a shorter marinade time – aim for at least 20 minutes & no more than 1 hour.
Make-Ahead & Meal Prep Tips
Make-Ahead Tips
Great news for meal prep lovers! Despite the suggested marinating times for this all-purpose marinade recipe, you can still get ahead on your dinner by prepping the marinade in advance. (A little bonus? The flavors of the marinade meld together even more the longer it sits!)
Here’s what you’ll do…
- Prep the marinade & store it in a jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator. The marinade will keep for up to 5 days.
- When you’re ready to start marinating (refer to the suggested marinating times above), simply give the marinade a shake & pour it over whatever meat or veggies you’re using it on – easy!
Alternate Cooking Methods
Alternate Cooking Methods
No grill? No problem! ⇢ If you do not have access to a grill, this brown sugar marinade also works great with any other preparation – stovetop, skillet meals, sheet pan meals, etc. Tip! ⇢ You can create a similar caramelized, grilled effect by using a grill pan on the stove or baking in the oven & finishing under the broiler.
Marinade Uses & Serving Suggestions
Much like the PWWB All-Purpose Marinade, this brown sugar bourbon grill marinade is so versatile. You can use it to add rich bourbon flavor to anything you like to throw on the grill during the summer months.
A few favorite pairings to try…
- Chicken. If you love bourbon chicken, this is the marinade for you! It adds so much flavor to lean cuts like boneless, skinless chicken breasts & thighs. You can also use it on bone-in skin on parts, like legs & drumsticks.
- Seafood. It creates an awesome bourbon glaze on grilled salmon & grilled shrimp skewers!
- Pork. Grilled pork chops or pork tenderloin practically beg for brown sugar & bourbon!
- Beef. Another great option, since the flavor of the marinade is big enough to stand up to rich beef. Use on your favorite steaks, like grilled ribeye or flank steak, or to make epic beef kabobs!
- Veggies. Yes, veggies! This bourbon marinade is great with hearty veggies, like onions, mushrooms, & baby potatoes…yes please! Grill them on their own, or skewer them onto satisfying summer kabobs with your favorite proteins.
My ideal plate? ⇢The BEST Bourbon Steak Kabobs! Dice some sirloin into bite-sized pieces & cover in the brown sugar bourbon marinade. Skewer the marinated beef with veggies of choice & grill over medium-high heat until crispy & charred. Serve alongside some grilled baby potatoes with a sprinkling of bleu cheese, freshly snipped chives, & coarsely ground black pepper! Easiest grilled steak dinner EVER.
I can’t wait for you to try this Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade recipe! It’s tangy, sweet, boozy, & perfect with anything you throw on the grill!
If you do give it a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations!
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Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Sauces & Condiments, Marinade
- Method: No-Cook, Grill
- Cuisine: American
Description
Tangy, rich, & sweet, this Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade recipe is a whiskey lover’s dream! Its bourbon-forward flavor is offset with rich, tangy balsamic, & a little bit of brown sugar creates crave-worthy caramelized char on the grill. Use it to elevate anything you throw on the grill this summer – chicken, steak, pork chops, kabobs, & more!
Be sure to check out the blog post, above, for plenty of tips, tricks, alternate cooking methods, & serving suggestions, & more! ♡ Happy grilling!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds meat or veggies of choice
- ½ cup bourbon (see Recipe Notes)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 tablespoon freshly chopped)
- optional: pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Mix the brown sugar bourbon: Add the bourbon, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard, garlic, rosemary, & crushed red pepper flakes, if using, to a bowl or jar. Season with 2 teaspoons kosher salt & ground black pepper, as desired. Whisk or shake to combine.
- Marinate: Pour the bourbon marinade over your meat or veggies of choice. Marinate at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
- Grill as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Bourbon: There’s no need to grab a top-shelf bourbon in for this bourbon marinade recipe since it’s being mixed with other flavor-forward ingredients like balsamic, mustard, & rosemary. We always have a handle of Jim Beam on hand, & it does the trick here!
- Suggested marinade time: Marinating time will vary based on the type of protein you’d like to use. Having tested this Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade recipe with a variety of different proteins & a variety of different marinating times, here’s what I suggest:
- Seafood – At least 20 minutes & no more than 1 hour.
- Chicken & pork – At least 6 hours & up to 3 days.
- Beef & lamb – At least 12 hours & up to 3 days.
- Veggies – At least 20 minutes or up to 5 days.
- 10-Minute Meal Prep: If you’d like to marinate something beyond the suggested marinade times above but would like to do some meal prep, I suggest prepping the marinade in advance. Store it in a jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days – the flavors meld together even more as the marinade sits. When you’re ready to start marinating (refer to the suggested marinating times above), simply give it the marinade a shake & pour it over whatever meat or veggies you’re using it on – easy!
Keywords: brown sugar bourbon marinade, brown sugar bourbon, grilled chicken marinade, grilled pork chop marinade, steak marinade, summer, pantry ingredients, easy, weeknight dinner
Recipe by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Eat Love Eat
Ready to Hit the Grill?
If this all still feels new to you, I encourage you to head over to Grilling 101, a compilation of tips & tricks for all of the grilling basics – everything from how to light your grill to how to clean your grill.
All this talk about grilling have you feelin’ ready to hit the grill? Me too! Be sure to check out this post for my 15 go-to marinades you need this grilling season. At our house, a good marinade is at the heart of grilling season. I’m positive these marinades will be on repeat at your house this summer! For even more grilled goodness, be sure to check out all of our Grilling & Smoking recipes.
& lastly! Be sure to give @playswellwithbutter a follow on Instagram – I’ll be teaching you how to grill up some goodness all summer long, & we have so much fun on Instagram!
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This did not taste good at all. No seasoning and tasted like straight bourbon.
★
Hi Heather! We’re sorry the marinade wasn’t what you had expected. Other readers have tried & enjoyed a balance of rich, tangy, & sweet flavors of the bourbon, balsamic, mustard, & brown sugar. Can we ask how long did you marinate your choice of meat or veggies and what protein/veggie did you use the marinade with?
Can I use this on a cast iron skillet with steaks?
Hi Tonae, you absolutely can!
Tried it on pork tenderloin today, and it was really good! The only thing I changed was the bourbon, since I didn’t have any more and wasn’t about to go out for some. I used a honey whiskey thing I’ve had kicking around since last Christmas, and it worked just fine flavor wise. I can totally imagine what it would be like with actual bourbon, and I’m looking forward to giving it another go. I agree with Holly – this would be amazing on steak!
★★★★★
Hi Jubie! Thanks so much & SO glad to hear that you enjoyed – the honey whiskey sounds like a great sub!
This looks super tasty. Can’t wait to change up the regular old chicken.
Hi Stephanie! Thanks so much!! Hope you give it a try soon – we LOVE how easy it is to switch up flavors by trying a new marinade. Check out all of our marinades HERE!
This Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade looks amazing, and I would bet the caramelization you can get from it is fantastic on meats and veggies. My question is, can you freezer meal prep using this marinade, or will it infuse too much into the food and ruin it? I would love to use it in some of my freezer meals so I can just dump it into a crockpot or instant pot and finish it off under a broiler. Your thoughts?
NVM I went back and re-read the article. 5 days…thank you
I’m thinking of giving these as gifts. How long can it keep in the fridge without in it marinating?
NVM I went back and re-read the article. 5 days…thank you
Hi. I assume that the alcohol burns off like most recipes that call for various wines etc
Hey Jennifer! So sorry for the delayed response but glad you were able to find the info in the original post. Yes, the marinade will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator – we hope it worked out for you!!
Looks delicious, cannot wait to try it.
Hope you love it, Jacki!
I’d like to meal prep for my up coming maternity leave. Can I freeze this marinade with my venison? I’ve done something similar with fajita seasonings and chicken.
Can you tell me if this recipe is gluten free? Thanks!
Hi Tracy! Most pure distilled whiskey (ie. Bourbon) is considered gluten-free but if you have celiac or are making for someone with celiac, we would recommend double checking the brand of Bourbon used to make sure. The other ingredients in the marinade should naturally be gluten-free, including the balsamic vinegar. However, to be safe we again always recommend checking labels of specific brands used if you are avoiding gluten consumption!
Super easy and tasty marinade! I used it with chicken breast and marinated for about 5 hours, which seemed to be perfect. Definitely could have gone longer. It was very bourbon forward in the flavor which I loved and felt really highlighted the other flavors. I would suggest not skipping the red pepper flake as it added another dimension to flavor profile and gave that sweet/spicy kick. This would be super good on steaks
★★★★★
Really easy and tasty marinade. My only suggestion would be to use half the amount of bourbon in the recipe, if you’re not into bourbon, because I found the flavor to be a just a bit strong. Otherwise, I marinated some pork chops and they were wonderful.
★★★★★
Omgshhh this was so good on chicken thighs!
★★★★★
I made this with chicken last weekend and it was FANTASTIC! I also remembered to use indirect heat per your guide and the chicken was very juicy and not dry at all!